MOON IN PESANTREN
Stop Wishing
“Seriousness?”
Syilla nodded with great certainty. “Seriously! I'm the same Dilla Denger obviously, really. Yes, Dill?”
Dilla.
“But yes emang from the first time it was too late, only I did not expect it to be this fast,” said I.
“Yes, where are they now? Still in place?” ask Aidha curiously.
“Still. Let's go there,” take Dilla. Then, we headed to the mini zoo that was inside the pesantren.
This mini zoo is inhabited by several animals such as the Cassowary (Casuarius), Malayan hedgehog (Hystrix brachyura), Lizard (Varanus), Sanca Snake (Pythonidae), Deer (Cervidae), and others, Buldogs (Canis lupus familiaris), monkeys and various other animals. The zoo is located far from the dormitory area and learning building. Its location is far from the dormitory area, does not make the lazy santri visit. Precisely every Sunday the students usually run in the morning through the zoo.
“Nah, that's Zahra. Let's go there samperin him.” Syilla pointed to Zahra who was sitting alone in the zoo park chair.
“Ayok!” Me, Aidha and Dilla followed Syilla.
This morning, the five of us ran the morning together, intending to exercise by surrounding the pesantren. Actually will not be able to really surround the pesantren if by walking or running, at least, using a bicycle. Given this vast pesantren area.
“Zahra,” call Syilla while sitting next to Zahra.
“Eh, where were you guys? How did you go?” ask Zahra to Syilla and Dilla.
Dilla. “Tadi Seli same Aidha called us, so I'm the same Syilla to that direction first. After all, you were talking about important things, right with Ustadz Zidan?” Dilla raised her eyebrows to tease Zahra.
The girl in blue was smiling. “What is important? Ustadz Zidan is just a regular thing. Uh, by the way, Seli with Aidha here? Says we're collecting the tour on the main field?”
“So when you were applied to Ustadz Zidan, I was the same Seli immediately rushed here,” Aidha replied quickly, immediately making everything look at each other.
Syilla and Dilla seemed to feel guilty for eavesdropping on Zahra and Ustadz Zidan's talk and leaked it to me and Aidha. Aidha also seems to slip to the core, Zahra sometimes does not like if someone is too curious about his personal affairs.
Zahra was smiling. “Oh, Syilla same Dilla turned out to be horrified my chat, continue to tell Seli with Aidha by phone? And they're straight here?” zahra asked with a slight laugh.
“Iya, Ra. How do dong tell the details? How can I do it?” I can't wait to hear Zahra's explanation.
Zahra took a breath and exhaled slowly. “I was also shocked when Ustadz Zidan suddenly said so. When the Ustadznya taught in our class, there was once a reason why Ustadz Zidan was not married and chose S2. Inget no Ustadznya answer if he ever married the same woman he likes?”
“Inget-inget. I think Ustadznya can not move the heart tuh.”
“Iya is really. Hahaha ..”
Zahra continued, “Nah, his father told Ustadz Zidan to get married soon. Ustadz Zidan said that he did not like any woman until now, but he felt I could be a good wife for him.”
At once we were excited to hear the words of Zahra just now. We cried out in excitement until the monkeys behind us responded in shock.
“Ekhem, Zahra so sweet really Ustadz Zidannya. Ah, so want to be applied too,” reply Aidha with a shy blush face.
“Goddess, Ra. Lucky anyway, how do you answer, Ra?” ask Dilla.
“Tar first, Ra. What were the words of Ustadz Zidan when he went to bed with you? Her Ustadz says, ‘Zahra, do you want to be my wife?’ so, Ra?” I was full of curiosity and supported by others.
Zahra's cheeks looked red, her face blushed in embarrassment. Who would not be happy to be proposed by someone as handsome and well-established as Ustadz Zidan.
“Ustadz Zidan says gini, ‘Zahra, you want to be my life companion?’ shock weigh me.”
“AAAAAA."
“Yes Allah, Masyaallah.”
“How do you answer, Ra?”
Zahra seemed to think. “I haven't answered.”
“Why not?”
I hit Aidha's hand slowly. “Hush ah. Yeah, maybe Zahra's confused. Can you answer that question right away, Dha? The one you fainted on first.”
“Iya abis fainted I immediately replied, ‘Mau bang, Ustadz’ proposed Ustadz handsome do not waste woi.”
Zahra sighed. “I'm confused to accept Ustadz Zidan or not. We're not in college, I'm afraid I'm distracted if married before college. Tau itself is getting married is not a joke, it must be thought through carefully. It's a thing done once for a lifetime.”
All agreed and understood Zahra's feelings now. Surely he is very worried, at the age of not even entering 20 years must serve a lifetime to the husband. That's definitely not an easy thing. Need very careful consideration.
“We can all help prayer, Ra. May you choose the right decision and be guided by Allah. If so, you pray Istikharah time, Ra,” my proposal.
“Daddy, I will pray Istikharah first. By the way, we chatted it while going back to the dorm yuk.” Zahra moved out of her chair.
Followed by all. “Ayok!”
Along the way we are still discussing Zahra and Ustadz Zidan. “Pesantren will be a very real game if Zahra sampa Ustadz Zidan actually married. Be prepared, Ra, you will be a warm conversation, nih.” Dilla was excited to imagine it.
“Ra, you later if there is a lecture assignment can be helped by Ustadz Zidan. Ustadz Zidan is a Biology teacher and is about to graduate S2 Biology, right? Similar to your majors, Ra. Very nice, deh.”
“I'm confused not because I think of college doang, but the man I like is not Ustadz Zidan. I like Harsa.”
We suddenly stopped our steps and looked at Zahra with a surprised look. Since then we did not realize that Zahra likes Harsa so he must be worried when proposed by other men.
The atmosphere immediately became tense, there was no more laughter like that. Zahra began to get serious about the situation before her. He has to make a very tough decision. We understand Zahra certainly can not be completely sincere that the man she likes for years actually likes her own close friend, namely me. O Allah, it is painful to remember the fact that I am the cause of Zahra's sorrow.
“Ra, sorry,” I said slowly.
Zahra smiled bitterly. “Udah, Cell. Don't you need to apologize. I know it's not your fault. Maybe that was his destiny. Maybe I am not the soul mate of Harsa, but until now I have not been able to escape him. I hate Harsa.” Zahra covered her face with her hijab. He was stunned, visible from his slightly shaken shoulders.
I can no longer hold back tears. I hugged Zahra, tried to calm her down and gave her a backrest. I feel so guilty even though I know it's not my fault. Still I'm involved in Zahra's heartbreak. The other friends just stared pityingly, not knowing how.
“Ra, sorry,” I said once again.
...***...
While waiting for Zuhur's time, I went out of the room and sat down on the corridor overlooking the garden. Looking at the blue sky and green trees. I carry the Qur’an pocket, intending to read it even a little. I opened the leaf and went to Surat An-Nisa verse 59. After I read the Arabic, I make it a habit to read the translation as well, in order to understand the meaning of the verse I read.
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle (Muhammad), and Ulil Amri (the ruler) among you. Then, if you disagree about something, then return it to Allah (Al-Qur’an) and the Messenger (his Sunnah), if you believe in Allah and the day after. That way it's more mainstream (for you) and better as a result.” (Q.S An-Nisa: 59).
The phone in the punch I was carrying shook. I opened it after finishing the verse I was reading. Seen on the screen, there was an incoming call from Andra. I swiped the green panel to receive his call.
“Assalamualaikum, Cell. I'm disturbing, aren't I?”
“Wa’allaikumsam. Disturb, Dra. What is it gonna take?”
I heard Andra laughing from across the street. “Ya already if disturbed later just talk about it, deh.”
“Kalo already know disturb ya cepetan not even later. It will also take up my time.”
“Although it's really fierce. More dapet, yes.”
I exhaled a rough breath. “Gue itung to three, no way I close!”
“Eh yes, geez. This is gonna say, anyway. Btw, you want to use ‘lo-gue’again anyway? I can't say, Cell. But, yeah, it's. Gini, Sel, I'd like to ask you to take my medicine left behind in the health building dong. Not missed, anyway. More precisely yesterday after treatment I tipped there first because I want to go to the field to train children.”
“Ngapain medicine? More pain?”
Andra laughed a little. “Not sick, really. Just yesterday asked for treatment because I took care of it for a few days. Though most because of lack of sleep aja.”
“If you already know sick, why even train basketball? So do not want if you do not meet adek class beautiful?” my pedicabs.
“Don't su’zan napa, Cell. I'm not a playboy like first,” the rebuttal while laughing. “Basketball field right in front of health building, Cell. From me all the way to it just for treatment doang ya mending all train dong.”
“If you can still train basketball, why now ask to be taken? Take it yourself,” I replied ketus because I was lazy to go there.
“That was yesterday, now I'm getting dizzy with his head. Really lemes again. Uh, but, the rice has been brought the same children's room that abis from the restaurant. Not taken nor papa, Cell. Later in the afternoon there are room children who want to train basketball so later all ask to be brought along aja medicinenya.”
If I look carefully, Andra's voice does sound raucous. His voice was like someone who was sick. I felt sorry, and I didn't want to have to take the medicine.
“Yes later because of lunch I anterin to your dorm. Later if I already want to sit, I'm told and anyway you should already be in the parking lot of your dorm. Don't take me to the dormitory guy alone and you still haven't come down.”
“Good, Mistress. Thank you very much then.”
I close the call after saying my regards.
...***...
After lunch at the diner, I covered the dorm parking lot to pick up my bike and rushed to the health building to pick up Andra's medicine. Fortunately, along the road in this pesantren filled with trees so that the wandering during the day is not too hot.
Sometimes, I wonder if what I'm doing is good for me? Will being friends with Andra make me sick many times over? I don't know why I always feel restless, I'm restless if one day Andra will let me down again. I'm afraid our friendship will only hurt me. It is true His command to hope only to Allah SWT. It is not allowed to hope in humans. Never wish to a human being if you do not want to be hurt.
I contacted Andra on my phone when I was almost at her dorm parking lot. Now he is walking towards me. He wears a plain black shirt with a sarong subordinate. Then, I handed him his medicine parcel.
“Still, Cell. Oh yeah, you were Mom's birthday, right? Mother birthday one week again.”
“Means the 13th of this month?”
Andra nodded.
“Yes later please send us your home address."
“Siap.” Andra was silent and looked glum. Before long, he said, “Sel, you want me who once took you to a dark room time on the beach?”
I was surprised Andra was discussing that again. Things I never wanted to remember. “Cowok who slapped me?” tanyaku is cynical while lowering the standard of the bike.
“Yes, but I don't mean to talk about that, Cell. I just want to let you know that he died yesterday. He's motor accident.”
I widened my eyes. “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi ra’jiun,” said I was surprised to hear this news. “May the deceased be accepted all his worship charities.”
“Aamiin. On behalf of him, I'm sorry, Cell. Sorry for the mistake he made to you at that time. I'm sorry I took you in because of her revenge request. Ma—.”
“Enough.” I cut the sentence. “Udah, no need to discuss things that have already happened. I'm going back. Don't forget to take the medicine.” I took my bike back to my dorm, leaving Andra still looking at me with a guilty face.
Sad indeed considering the initial intention of Andra's friendship to me as dirty as that. I never thought I'd be friends with someone as evil as Andra. Yes, Andra is evil. Unfortunately, I can't just let go of this friendship.
...***...
